SPONSORED CONTENT Your guide to holiday party planning 2022 Corporate Holiday Guide 2022 Corporate Holiday Guide
Cambria Hotel, 14th Floor, 32 W. Randolph, Chicago, IL 60601 • (312) 488-0900 AreainHolidayYourPartytheChicagoThisYear
CORPORATE HOLIDAY GUIDE
C abaret ZaZou is Chicago’s most unique and stunning entertainment venue. Housed on the 14th floor of the Cambria Hotel in Chicago’s Theatre District, Cabaret ZaZou is the home of an authentic Belgian Spiegeltent with an adjacent bar and lounge that can accommodate up to 300 people and is the perfect space for corporate events or group outings. Your party can enjoy a private viewing of Luminaire, the venue’s current production, which features comedy, music, and international cirque performers, or an entertainment experience can be customized to meet the needs of your special occasion. For information on booking your group of 10 or more to see Luminaire, contact Broadway In Chicago at 312-977-1710 or email: events@cabaretzazou.com cabaretzazou.com
Cabaret ZaZou
Plan
A s we’re wrapping up the end of 2022, there is still one final event that must be planned, the annual holiday party. Crain’s Content Studio has made this year’s planning easy with the Corporate Holiday Planning Guide. This guide is packed with tips and insider advice for hosting the perfect holiday event for employees, clients, vendors and beyond. With a variety of suggestions for the perfect end-of-year party—from locations, to group activities, to inspiration—it ensures your party is better than ever. Sit back, relax and reunite with colleagues at an entertaining dinner show, engage in a little friendly competition with your co-workers or keep it classic and book a private event space! Every holiday party celebrates a little differently, and everyone deserves an unforgettable experience. Let the party planning begin!
T MuseumHistoryChicagoheinvites you and your guests into our warm, historical home for the holidays. Be a guest at your own varietyMuseumChicagoLincolntheTuckedHistorythecelebrationholidayatChicagoMuseum.alonggardensofPark,theHistoryoffersaofspaces that can be used for corporate events, daytime meetings, cocktail receptions, reunions and, of course, your holiday festivities. events@chicagohistory.org chicagohistory.org/corporate-events
Game Night Out
A re you interested in planning a holiday event that your team members will reminisce about well into the New Year?
At Game Night Out, your group will participate in a series of all-original party games, engage in head-to-head competition, genuinely have fun and enjoy each other’s company. There will be no cringe-worthy “trust falls” or “ice breakers” in sight—just casual games, real laughs and authentic fun that turns colleagues into
2828 N. Clark St., Unit 401, Chicago, IL 60657 (312) 448-7247
CORPORATE HOLIDAY GUIDE SPONSORED CONTENT
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Chicago History Museum
Ourteammates.varietyof game styles has something to offer all personalities too, from Sarah in Sales to Alex in Accounting. And our professional hosts will take care of everything for you, from explaining each game, to keeping track of points, to ensuring your time with us is full of laughter. All you have to do is sit back, unplug and reconnect with colleagues. We’ll take care of the rest and you’ll look like the office hero for planning an unforgettable event. reservations@gamenightout.com gamenightout.com
1601 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60614 • (312) 799-2254
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CHIWA-SALESADM@WALDORFASTORIA.COM 11 E Walton Street, Chicago, IL | 312-646-1324 Malnati’sou is ready to (holiday) party! Whether you’re hosting an event at home or at the office, our catering services are perfect for a wide array of guests, ranging from 1 to 92. From our legendary deep dish and thin crust pizzas, to makehaveandsandwiches,pastas,saladsmore,weeverythingtoyourseasonbright. if you dread the party cleanup, host your holiday gathering in one of our Private Event Spaces instead. Just make one call and we’ll handle it all: (847) 562-1918. You may also email cateringcrew@loumalnatis.com or visit loumalnatis.com/special-events for more information. cateringcrew@loumalnatis.com loumalnatis.com/special-events
CORPORATE HOLIDAY GUIDE Bring warmth to your holiday event surrounded by sparkle and elegance only at Waldorf Astoria Chicago.
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Lou CateringMalnati’s&Events Various Locations • (847) 562-1918M ake your next event one to remember at LM Studio The light-filled, two-level atelier eventeventsmakeloveornowideexperiencehasOurspecialsettingdesign:barfloorplan,featuresAve.historicoverlookingMichiganandGrantParkanopenacustomandamoderntheperfectforyourevent.teamofexpertsyearsofcateringavarietyofevents;eventistoosmalltoolarge.Clientsusbecauseweevencomplexeasy.Ourproswillworkwith you through each step of the process to create unique and memorable experiences that your guests will talk about for years to come. info@lmstudiochicago.com lmstudiochicago.com LM Studio 808 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60605 (312) 995-0134
CORPORATE HOLIDAY GUIDE
Soldier Field 1410 S. Museum Campus Drive, Chicago, IL 60605 • (312) 235-7000
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S oldier Field is Chicago’s premier event venue, as it hosts a wide range of events, including concerts, expos and meetings, along with corporate, social and sporting events. Offering sweeping views of the downtown skyline and beautiful Lake Michigan, Soldier Field is, in turn, the perfect venue to wow your guests. The talented event team at Soldier Field will take care of every detail too, in order to ensure that your event is spectacular. Featuring all-inclusive packages and early setup times, enabling your event day to be turn-key and relaxed. Take your party to the next level with optional add-ons as well, such as premium catering and top-shelf bar service, audio/visual opportunities, behind-the-scenes stadium tours and photo opportunities on the field. In addition, you may also mention CRAIN’S for $500 off your 2022 Club booking! events@soldierfield.net soldierfield.com
T he Waldorf Astoria Chicago invites you to take advantage of a few of our favorite things. Receive each of the following: 10% off your food and beverage, complimentary event space rental, a 30-minute consultation with our Cocktail & Couture Manager to create a one-of-akind holiday mocktail or cocktail, a special guestroom rate and double Hilton Honors points. To top it all off, state the word “holiday” for a surprise favorite thing when you inquire! We offer, at minimum, three ideal holiday event spaces for guests of 10 to 170! As an icon of glamour and luxury, unforgettable is our goal at the Waldorf Astoria Chicago, located in the heart of the Gold Coast. From the moment your guests arrive at our breathtaking courtyard and enter our stunning lobby, they are in for an unforgettable experience, as they’ll also feel individually special. After all, everyone deserves something with a bit of sparkle and elegance! chiwa-salesadm@waldorfastoria.com waldorfastoriachicagohotel.com 11 E. Walton, Chicago, IL 60611 • (312) 646-1324
Waldorf Astoria Chicago
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By Ashley Zlatopolsky
“We believe that businesses can make their holiday events feel authentic by celebrating their people,” explains Sally Glunz, director of catering at Lou Malnati’s. “Make the celebration feel more personal by thanking them for their hard work.” To take that personalization one step further, Glunz recommends creating a slideshow with photos of the team and business highlights throughout the year. It’s all about balancing business with personal, Mojica says. “Going out for drinks for the sake of being authentic might be too casual, while trust-falls, formal icebreakers and name badges might be too structured.” Selecting a vendor or activity that can help strike that balance, he continues, can allow your team to unplug from work and re-engage as people. This, in turn, creates a holiday party “your team will actually want to attend.”
FINDING BALANCE “Leadership should strive to plan as authentic of a social experience as possible,” Mojica advises, who hosts numerous corporate and virtual events at Game Night Out. One way to do so is by putting the people behind a business at the event’s forefront.
“People want to connect with other people,” he explains. “They don’t want to spend a few hours on-repeat, engaged in small talk.” To break the workplace corporate vibe, Mojica recommends planning a corporate holiday event around an activity or entertainment that “allows people to focus their energy on sharing a moment together.”
The key to a successful corporate holiday event?
CORPORATE HOLIDAY GUIDE
Authentic shared experiences add a personal touch to corporate events. Rather than focusing on corporate goals, Aaron Mojica, co-founder at Game Night Out, says companies should strive to help their employees create lasting memories. The corporate talk, he explains, can be saved for other opportunities throughout the year.
This includes team-building corporate holiday events like escape rooms, trivia nights, murder mystery dinners and bowling tournaments, which are quickly becoming the trend in 2022. Traditional dinner and drinks, however, are slipping into the past as more and more companies aim to give their employees a chance to truly break free from work.
Creating authentic experiences
To strike that balance on their own, businesses can add small elements of surprise to their corporate holiday events, like friendly competition, silly prizes and end-of-year awards designed with a humorous twist. “Consider something you would do for fun with friends, or something you would love to do with friends, but have never had the opportunity,” Mojica suggests for planning the perfect event. “Also, make sure your staff gets a chance to connect with people other than the ones they work with dayto-day.”
SPONSORED CONTENT With breathtaking views just steps from the lake, the Chicago History Museum is the perfect location for your next event. We offer several event spaces, an outdoor plaza, and a theater to allow for gatherings of up to 1,500 people. Add a lively after-hours cocktail reception to unwind after a productive day. Set the perfect scene for your next event at the Chicago History Museum. CREATE YOUR HISTORIC MOMENT 1601 N. Clark St. | chicagohistory.org | 312.799.2254 | events@chicagohistory.org GOT MEETINGS? Showcase your venue or event services in our Meeting Planners Guide, a guide for key business meetings, conferences, and special event facilities. Publishing December 5 in print and online. Reserve your spot by November 17. To learn more email crainscustomstudio@crain.com.
Being able to travel to a venue, Iverson continues, also helps employees feel that much more valued. “To be able to travel to a venue is an exciting treat for a corporate crowd,” she says.
Ideas for interactive food experiences can include a DIY s’mores station—which Rottsolk says is “incredibly popular” at a variety of events—or live action stations where chefs prepare custom food-to-order. Mariel Iverson, senior catering and events manager at Waldorf Astoria Chicago, suggests finding a way for guests to bring home interactive experiences as well.
CORPORATE HOLIDAY GUIDE
Since the holidays are a time to cherish and celebrate loved ones, Iverson suggests extending corporate event invites to employees’ families. “One of our beloved events is a breakfast with Santa, which resonates with our employees and conveys an understanding of the importance of family, especially during the holiday season,” she says. “We love to host events that encourage our employees to bring their families along, turning our hosted festivities into lifelong family memories.”
Interactive vendors are another big success at corporate events, Iverson explains. “Photobooths are always a big hit,” she says.
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Businesses can even brand photo frames or backgrounds with their company logo. “They are fun for guests of any age to participate in together and create memories that will last long after the event is done.”
“Host a wine tasting with a pairing of appetizers during which guests can create a recipe book to bring home for the holidays,” she says. “Or plan reception stations with holiday-themed trivia in order to move on to the next station.”
ADDING VALUE
Another important element to consider when planning corporate holiday events is atmosphere, says Lauren Hammond, communications director at LM Restaurant Group. There’s no better way to build atmosphere, she explains, than by making everything about the event interactive—including the food and drinks. “A great way to take a standard dinner party one step further is to make the food interactive,” adds Lesley Rottsolk, catering sales manager at LM Restaurant Group. “Having multiple stations where guests can customize their food helps get people out of chairs and mingling.”
“Give employees the opportunity to get dressed up for an elegant holiday evening, bring along their significant other and go somewhere new for a memorable, out-of-the-norm experience. Plan an event away from the office or places of Still,work.”bringing a little work into the picture doesn’t hurt. “Share enthusiasm for the year ahead by highlighting company initiatives and upcoming rollouts, while also celebrating milestones,” says Lorelei Kroulaidis, director of special events at Chicago History Museum. “When corporate holiday events demonstrate enthusiasm for what’s to come, it can be contagious. A combination of a unique atmosphere, engaging moments and memorable takeaways can keep employee morale up as you head into a new year.”
INTERACTIVE ATMOSPHERE
“...A combination of a unique atmosphere, engaging moments and memorable takeaways can keep employee morale up as you head into a new year.” - Lorelei Kroulaidis, director of special events at Chicago History Museum.
